For Those We Serve

Substance Use Services

Juvenile Justice Substance Abuse Mental Health Partnerships

Over 50% of youth in contact with the juvenile justice system have some kind of substance use or mental health disorder. This is considerably higher than adolescents in general. Arrest, adjudication, and intervention by the juvenile justice system are consequences for many youth using alcohol and other drugs. One doesn’t cause the other, but they are linked.

In North Carolina, the Division and the Department of Public Safety are working together through local teams that assess and provide treatment for juvenile justice-involved youth. Treatment is based on practices that have been shown to work. These programs are in 72 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. Between 2007 and 2010, over 3000 youth received services.